Ambigrams, or inversions, are graphical figures that spell a single word in multiple directions or orientations. There are a number of categories, including rotational ambigrams, which present several instances of a word when rotated through a fixed angle, and mirror ambigrams, which can be read when reflected in a mirror. The word “suns” is a natural ambigram, meaning it has some form of symmetry in its natural state. What novel, published by bestselling author Dan Brown, features ambigrams?More...

Signed by US President Ronald Reagan and USSR General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty represented a historic shift in superpower relations. The first treaty to mandate a reduction in stockpiled weapons rather than just a limit on them, it required the destruction of 1,752 Soviet and 859 US missiles. Though the agreement has been upheld by some Soviet successor states, Russian President Vladimir Putin said what about the treaty in 2007?More...

Rivera was a Mexican mural painter. In Europe, he was influenced by the paintings of El Greco and Goya and closely associated with Cézanne and Picasso. Convinced that his art belonged to the populace and should be displayed in public spaces, he returned to Mexico in 1921 and painted, with the assistance of younger artists, large murals dealing with the life, history, and social problems of Mexico. He later completed several murals in the US. Rivera was twice married to what famous artist?More...

In Uruguay, December 8 is known as the Day of the Beaches because it marks the official opening of the beach season on the coast known as the "Uruguayan Riviera." There are ceremonies in which a priest blesses the waters, sailing regattas, horseback riding competitions, and an international shooting contest at Carrasco. Sometimes this day is referred to as Family Day or Blessing of the Waters Day.More...

In the mid 1900s, the most popular banana in the world—a sweet, creamy variety called Gros Michel grown in Latin America—all but disappeared from the planet. At the time, it was the only banana in the world that could be exported. But a fungus, known ...More...

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